Putland swings into frame for Ashes

Greg Buckle

SOUTH AUSTRALIA coach Darren Berry says Gary Putland could be a contender for the 2013 Ashes tour after the left-arm swing bowler claimed 12-92 to bowl the Redbacks to a rare win at the MCG.

South Australia's second Shield triumph of the season, a nine-wicket victory with two sessions to spare on Monday's final day of play, came after the Bushrangers resumed on 6-86 and were bowled out for 132.

Chasing just 36 to win, the Redbacks scored 1-36 off seven overs for the loss of first-innings century-maker Phillip Hughes for eight.

Putland picked up 5-28 off 25 overs in Victoria's second innings after his 7-64 in the first dig.

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''Two wins in the last three games, it's starting to turn in the right direction,'' Berry said of a side who were without a Shield victory last season.

Berry says Putland's ability to bowl inswingers to the right-handers is crucial.

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''He's taken six five-fors in 15 Shield matches. He is a serious bowler,'' Berry said. ''Gary Putland would be an ideal Ashes bowler. If an opening comes and that's what I'm going to be pushing with him, and it's not just based on this game. They're extraordinary figures, 12-92 off 61 overs. It's an unbelievable effort.

''He should be [talked about] in the same vein as Jackson Bird and Josh Hazlewood. He's gone under the radar a little bit but a couple of performances like that and I'm sure they [selectors] will be taking notice.''

Putland, 26, boasts 19 wickets at 16.84 in three Shield games this season. Berry says Hughes must be awfully close to a Test recall after his 158 lifted him to the top of Shield's run-scoring list. ''If Hughes plays I think he can bat anywhere in the top six,'' Berry said.

South Australia celebrated their first Shield win at the MCG since 1998, doubling their points tally to 12 from six games. Victoria remain second on 20 points.

Bushrangers and Australia A all-rounder John Hastings posted scores of 80 and 13 claimed 5-66 in South Australia's first innings to also keep his name in front of Test selectors.

Victoria assistant coach Simon Helmot said the Bushrangers had some major batting flaws to address after their top order collapsed to 5-83 in the first innings and 6-41 in the second dig.